Vanity attachment for bathtubs



March 14, 1939 a. B. BENTZ 'VAN ITY ATTACHMENT FOR BATHTUBS Filed April23, 1938 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 I gwumvtoo (ieo ge .B. Beni'z WITNESSPatented Mar. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES antes PATENT OFIQE 18 Claims.

The invention aims to provide a novel and advantageous attachment for abathtub, permitting a person to manicure finger or toe nails, applycosmetics, dress her hair, or perform other beautifying operations whilesitting in the tub.

In carrying out the above end, a further object is to make novelprovision whereby the entire attachment may be compactly folded when notin use.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subjectmatter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplishedby reference to the accompanying drawmgs.

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the attachment within a bathtub.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the attachment removed from the tub.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are detail sectional views partly in elevation,illustrating the tub-engaging members for holding the attachment inplace.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the means forvertically adjusting the tray.

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a simplified construction.

In the drawings above briefly described, a preferred construction hasbeen illustrated, and while such construction will be specificallydescribed, variations may be made within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

A frame If! is provided to extend transversely within a bathtub and tooccupy an inclined position, said frame preferably having an inclinedfoot rest II of openwork form, and inclined side arms I2 projectingupwardly beyond said foot rest. To facilitate use of the foot rest II,and in fact the entire attachment, a suitable seat I 3 may be mounted inthe tub.

An elongated tray I4 is pivotally connected with the upper ends of thearms I2 and preferably embodies three tray portions I5, I I5 and I! forcosmetics, instruments, etc. Arms I8 are shown for holding the tray Itin operative posi tion and for permitting said tray to swing downwardlyinto compact relation with the frame I?) when its use is not required.The arms I 8 are pivoted at I9 to the arms I2 and at their upper endsare provided with forks 2B engageable with teeth 2| on the lower side ofthe tray I I, at the ends of the latter. Regardless of the inclinationwhich the frame I!) may have in the tub, by

swinging the arms l8 in one direction or the 7 other, the tray It may beleveled.

In the preferred construction, the tray M is provided with tubulartrunnions 22 extending through and projecting beyond bearings 23 carriedby the upper ends of the arms I2, to pivotally connect said tray withthe frame I 0, and I utilize said trunnions 22 in adjustably mountingtubengaging members 24 and 25. I also prefer to provide a tubular lowerend bar 26 for the frame In and to adjustably mount additionaltub-engaging members 21 in the ends of said tubular bar.

The member may simply be a short length of rod slidable in one of thetrunnions 22 and having a knob 28 of rubber or the like to rest upon thetub rim and abut the bathroom wall. The member 24-, however, ispreferably of C-shape with knobs 29 and 30 of rubber or the like on itsupper and lower-arms 3i and 32 respectively, said member 24 having ashank 33 slidable in the other of the trunnions 22. The arm 32 isrelatively short in order that its knob 30 may abut the inner side ofthe tub wall. The arm 3!, however, is comparatively long in order thatit may overlie the tub rim and its knob 29 may rest on said rim. Byoutwardly or inwardly adjusting the members 24 and 25 to the requiredextent, they may be engaged with tubs of different sizes, it being ofcourse understood that the frame I0 is sufiiciently short to fit withinthe narrowest tub manufactured.

For holding the members 24 and 25 in adjusted position, any preferredmeans may be provided, cotter pins 34 passing through openings in thetrunnions 22 and receivable in any of the spaced openings 35 in saidmembers, being shown for illustrative purposes. Similarly, any preferredmeans may be provided for holding the tub-engaging members 2'I at thelower end of the frame III, in adjusted position. I have shown thesemembers 21 in the form of short threaded rods having knobs 36 of rubberor the like to abut the tub side walls, nuts or hand-wheels tl beingthreaded on said rods to adjust them outwardly t0 the required extent.

A mirror 38 is provided to extend upwardly from the tray I4 for use andto fold downwardly into compact relation with said tray when not in use.In the present showing, arms 39 carry the mirror 38 and are pivoted at40 to the edge of the tray I4 remote from the user, said arms 39 beingprovided with downward extensions M which lie against the lower sides ofthe arms I2 when said arms 39 are in operative position. The mirror 38is suitably pivoted at 42 to the arms 39 for adjustment as required.

It will be seen from the foregoing, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, that novel and advantageous provision has beenmade for carrying out the objects of the invention. The attachment maybe quickly and easily adjusted according to the tub size and byadjusting the arms 58, the tray Hi may be leveled. When use of theattachment is no longer required, these arms may be swung to inoperativeposition, permitting the tray i i to swing downwardly into compactrelation with the frame Ill. The arms 39 may then be swung downwardly todispose the mirror 38 in compact relation with the tray i l. Theattachment in its folded condition, may either remain in the tub or maybe taken therefrom and stored in small space until again needed.

In Fig. 8, I have shown four supports E i corresponding in constructionto the supports 2%, connected with the ends of a tray M forming anextremely simple vanity attachment for a tub.

While preferred details have been shown, attention is again invited tothe possibility of making variations within the scope of the inventionas claimed.

I claim:

1. A vanity attachment for a bathtub, comprising an inclined frame toextend transversely in a tub, a tray pivoted to the upper end of saidframe for downward swinging into compact relation therewith when not inuse, and arms for sup porting said tray in operative position, said armsbeing pivoted to said frame and detachably engaged with said tray.

2. A vanity attachment for a bathtub, comprising an inclined frame toextend transversely in a tub, a tray pivoted to the upper end of saidframe for downward swinging into compact relation therewith when not inuse, releasable means for supporting said tray in operative position andfor allowing downward swinging of said tray upon said frame when not inuse, mirror-carrying arms pivoted to and extending upwardly from saidtray, a mirror carried by said arms for downward swinging onto said traywhen not in use, and downward extensions on said arms to underlie theupper portion of said inclined frame to hold said arms in operativeposition.

3. A vanity attachment for a bathtub, comprising an inclined foot restto extend transversely in a tub, arms secured to and projecting upwardlyfrom said foot rest, a tray supported by said arms, and tub-engagingmeans for holding said foot rest, arms and tray in operative position.

4. A vanity attachment for a bathtub, said attachment having an inclinedframe to extend transversely in a tub, and tub-engaging supports at theupper and lower ends of said inclined frame, at least some of saidsupports being projectable and retractable.

5. A vanity attachment for a bathtub, said attachment having an inclinedframe to extend transversely in a tub, and tub-engaging supports at theupper and lower ends of said inclined frame, at least some of saidsupports being projectable and retractable, said attachment havingtubular portions in which said some of said tubengaging supports areadjustably held.

6. A vanity attachment for a bathtub. said attachment having a frame toextend transversely in a tub, the upper end of said frame being providedwith horizontally alined bearings for disposition near the upper edgesof the tub walls, a tray having trunnions passing through and beyondsaid bearings, said trunnions having means to engage the tub walls tosupport the upper end of said frame, and releasable means for holdingsaid tray against pivotal movement upon said trunnions.

7. A vanity attachment for a bathtub, said attachment having a frame toextend transversely in a tub, the upper end of said frame being providedwith horizontally alined bearings for disposition near the upper edgesof the tub walls, a tray having trunnions passing through and beyondsaid bearings, at least one of said trunnions being tubular, andtub-engaging means carried by said trunnions and including a memberadjustably received in said tubular trunnion for extension to a requiredamount therefrom.

8. A vanity attachment for a bathtub, said at tachment having aninclined frame to extend transversely in a tub, extensible andretractable abutment means on the lower end of said inclined frame toabut the side walls of the tub, and tub-engaging means to support theupper end of said frame.

9. A vanity attachment for a bathtub, said attachment having an inclinedframe to extend transversely in a tub, extensible and retractableabutment means on the lower end of said inclined frame to abut the sidewalls of the tub, said frame having a transverse tubular member in whicha portion of said abutment means is adiustably received for. extensionto a required ameunt therefrom, and tub-engaging means to support theupper end of said frame.

10. In a bathtub accessory, a foot-rest for disposition in an inclinedplane extending transversely within a bathtub, and means connected withsaid foot-rest to contact with the tub to support said rest in operativeposition.

11. A structure as specified in claim said rest-supporting meanscomprising relatively adjustable anti-slip members to abut the sidewalls of the tub.

12. In a bathtub accessory, a foot-rest for disposition in an inclinedplane extending transversely within a bathtub, laterally adjustablesupporting means on the lower end of said foot-rest to contact with thetub, and additional supporting means for the upper end of saidfoot-rest.

13. A vanity attachment for a bathtub, comprising a tray to extendacross the tub in front of a bather seated in the latter, an inclinedfoot-rest under said tray upon which the seated bather may place hisfeeet, said tray and foot-rest being so connected as to constitute oneunit bodily applicable to and removable from the tub, and tub-engagingmeans on said unit to hold the same in operative position.

14. A vanity attachment for a bathtub, comprising a tray to extendacross the tub in front of a bather seated in the latter, an inclinedfootrest under said tray upon which the seated bather may place hisfeet, a mirror extending upwardly from said tray for use by the seatedbather, said tray, foot-rest and mirror being so connected as toconstitute one unit bodily applicable to and removable from the tub, andtub-engaging means on said unit to hold the same in operative pcsition.

15. A vanity attachment for a bathtub, comprising a frame to extendtransversely within a tub, said frame having tub-engaging means forholding it in an inclined operative position. a

tray pivoted to said frame to extend transversely of the tub, andreleasable means for holding said tray in horizontal position for use,the pivotal connection between said tray and frame being so located thatsaid tray is foldable into compact relation with said frame when not inuse.

16. A structure as specified in claim 15; together with a mirrorextending upwardly from said tray and pivotally mounted to swing intocompact relation therewith when not in use.

1'7. A bathtub attachment comprising a member to span the tub, andsupporting means for said tub-spanning member including a c-shapedmember having one arm to rest on the tub rim and another arm to abut theinner side of the tub wall, said C-shaped member being provided with aninherently rigid horizontal shank secured to its intermediate portion,said tub-spanning member having means for mounting said shank thereonfor extension or retraction as required.

18. A vanity attachment for a bathtub, comprising a tub-spanning portionhaving a tray for disposition in front of a leather seated in the tub, afoot-rest portion below said tub-spanning portion upon which the seatedbather may place his feet, means connecting said foot-rest portion withsaid tub-spanning portion, and tub-engaging means on both of saidportions to support the attachment.

GEORGE B. BENTZ.

